Twisting attachment



7 Nov. 24, 1936. J, ALL I 2,061,913

TWISTING ATTACHMENT Filed July 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I WITNESSEINVENTOR: Jbfil/VZUMVMfiEE'MLL fla E W 1 i 0 z'ha ATTORNEY Nov. 24,1936. J MA H L 2,061,913

' TWISTING ATTACHMENT Filed July 2, 1955 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a) i L J W OV 24 x M i M Z 3 5a 4 2 g 523 45 M g ,5

fly 5 miss INVENTOR: M LfiM/VZWNMJ WL 771. W BY 7 A TTORNE Y PatentedNov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TWISTING ATTACHMENTApplication July 2, 1935, Serial No. 29,490

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to the art of yarn twisting and isconcerned primarily with the twisting of threads or plies of yarntogether as they are being supplied to a knitting machine.

At the present time, a knitting machine of conventional design includesa source of yarn supply in the form of a cone from which a thread is ledto the knitting instrumentalities. This invention recognizes thatconditions may arise under which it becomes desirable to supply two ormore plies of yarn to the knitting instrumentalities, that is, a threadmade up of two or more single strands twisted together.

Accordingly, this invention has in view, as an important object, theprovision of an attachment for knitting machines which includes asupplemental source of yarnsupply together with mechanisms for twistingthe supplemental yarn about a thread being supplied to the knittinginstrumentalities.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment ofthe character described which includes a mounting for a cone of yarn andthrough which mounting passes a thread being supplied the knittinginstrumentalities, and driving mechanism for causing rotation of thecone.

A somewhat more detailed object of the invention is to provide in aknitting machine of the character noted, driving mechanism for causingtwisting of the supplemental yarn, whichmechanism is driven from themain driving shaft of a knitting machine. 7

Another important end in view is the provision of a twisting attachmentwhich is readily adaptable for operative association with the varioustypes of knitting machines now commonly availed of in commercial fields.In carrying out this idea in a practical embodiment, the inventioncontemplates an attachment which does not interfere with the regularoperations of a knitting machine, and the use of which attachment may bedispensed with whenever circumstances dictate without impairing theefficiency of operation of the machine.

More particularly, an objective of the invention is to provide atwisting attachment in which a supplemental yarn is twisted about thethread being supplied the knitting instrumentalities with the twistingmovement being evidenced by movement of the supplemental yarn ratherthan by rotation of the thread from the regular source of supply.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages will in part becomeapparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of theinvention proceeds. g

The invention therefore comprises a twisting attachment which includes amounting for a supplemental yarn in the form of a cone, the

mounting providing for the passage of the thread extending to theinstrumentalities therethrough, together with mechanism for causingrotation of said cone, there being driving connections from the maindriving shaft of a knitting machine. The attachment also includes meansfor assembling it with a knitting machine.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, referencemay be had to the following description and accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a knitting machine which includes anattachment made in accordance with the precepts of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view of the attachment per se,

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of a driving mechanism for asupplemental cone of yarn, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed illustration in section showing themounting of a shaft in the attachment.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts,

a well-known type of knitting machine is shown in Figure 1 and anattachment made in accord ance with the present invention is shown asapplied thereto. It is to be clearly understood that the instantinvention is not to be limited to the particular form of knittingmachine disclosed as it is obviously adaptable to other types ofknitting machines.

Such a knitting machine ordinarily includes a main driving shaft onwhich is mounted a pulley designated Ill. The knitting machine alsoincludes a circular head H which carries the knitting instrumentalities.The frame of the knitting machine also includes a lower pedestalindicated at 12. The latter may carry a mounting for the main source ofsupply of yarn for the knitting instrumentalities and this mounting inthe illustrated embodiment takes the form of a depending leg 13 fromwhich extends an arm [4. Upstanding from the extremity of the latter isa stem l5 which carries a cone of yarn indicated at 16. A thread l1extends from the cone l6 upwardly, where it is affected by theattachment of the present invention, ultimately reaching the knittinginstrumentalities carried on the head H.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the illustratedattachment takes the form of a bracket I8 provided with a pair ofdepending legs l9 and 20 and also having connecting arms 2| and 22 whichare availed of as a means for operatively affixing the attachment inposition with respect to the knitting machine of Figure 1. Screw membersare shown at 23 which extend through openings 24 in the arms 2! and 22and into the head H to securely fasten the mounted in the legs [9 and 20and at one end this shaft carries a pulley 26 which is drivably mountedthereon. A driving belt 21 is shown as extending about the pulleys l0and 26 to provide a driving connection between the main shaft of theknitting machine and the shaft 25. This shaft 25 is shown as providedwith collars 28 for maintaining it in proper position in the legs is and29. Adjacent to the leg !9 the shaft 25 is provided with a friction discwhich is referred to in its entirety by the reference character 29. Thisdisc 29 comprises a hub member 30 which is keyed to the shaft 25 asindicated at 3|, and which carries a ring-like member 32. A frictionmember such as a leather disc is shown at 33 as being clamped betweenthe ring 32 and a clamping member 34 by the fastening members at 35.

A tubular shaft 36 extends through the opening in the bracket i8 and atits lower extremity carries a disc-like driving member 37 that is infrictional engagement with the periphery of the disc 29. This drivingmember 3'! is drivably carried by the shaft 36. The latter is rotatablymounted in the bracket M3 by a bearing housing 38. The latter includes acylindrical part which is threaded at its extremity as shown at 39 andthis threaded portion is screwed into a complemental threaded opening inthe bracket I 8.

A collar it is screwed onto the cylindrical portion 39 above the bracketl8 and serves to maintain the housing 38 in position. This housing 38 isprovided with a bore ii which is enlarged at its upper extremity toreceive a bearing assembly at 42, this bearing assembly 32 beingpreferably of a single type. At the lower extremity of the housing 38,the bore ti is also enlarged to receive another bearing assembly 43which may include a double row of bearings. fhis lower bearing assembly13 is maintained in position in the housing 38 and about the tubularshaft 39 by a retaining means in the form of a collar shown at 44.

Above the bearing housing 38. the shaft 36 carries a cone holder 35 andmounted on the latter is a supplemental source of supply of yarn asindicated at 46. A thread il extends from the latter and is twistedabout the thread H incident to rotation of the cone 4%. Depending fromthe bracket [8 is a yarn guide 8 having a flanged extremity 49 providedwith an eye 58 through which the thread ll passes.

The knitting machine shown in Figure 1 includes rods 5!, one of whichcarries a guide at 52 through which the twisted yarn, made up of thethreads fl and er, passes. This twisted thread is led to the knittinginstrumentalities carried by the head H in a well-known manner which isnot herein illustrated and described as it is not a part of thisinvention.

The mode of operation of the above described mechanism is believed to beobvious. However, it may be briefly outlined by noting that the threadI! extends from the eye 58 in the guide 48 and up through the tubularshaft 3%. The thread :3! from the cone 16 is twisted about the thread llincident to rotation of this cone 46 in the direction of the arrow onFigure 1. This rotation is caused by rotation of the shaft 3'5 that iseffected by the driving connections including the members 31 and 29,shaft 25, pulleys 26 and m and belt 2?, that drivably connect with themain driving shaft of the knitting machine.

While the invention has been illustrated anddescribed as functioning tosupply a so-called. double thread to the knitting instrumentalities,obviously it is not to be so limited. The cone of yarn at 16 might wellinclude a strand made up of two or more threads and the attachment ofthis inventionwould be effective to twist an additional thread aboutthis strand as it passes through the mounting for the supplementalsource of supply.

While the preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbeforeset forth, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to theexact constructions illustrated and described because variousmodifications of these details may be provided in putting the inventioninto practice within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A twisting attachment of the character described comprising abracket, means for attaching the bracket to a knitting machine, atubular shaft rotatably mounted in the bracket, a cone of yarn carriedby said tubular shaft, legs depending from the bracket, a shaft carriedby said legs, and driving connections between said last mentioned shaftand the said tubular shaft.

2. A twisting attachment of the character described comprising a bracketincluding depending legs and means for affixing the bracket to aknitting machine, a shaft carried by the said legs, a second shaftrotatably mounted in the bracket and drivably connected with the firstmentioned shaft, said second mentioned shaft including a passage throughwhich a thread may extend, and means for mounting a cone of yarn on saidsecond mentioned shaft.

3. A twisting attachment of the character described comprising a bracketincluding depending legs and means for affixing the bracket to aknitting machine, a shaft carried by the said legs, a second shaftrotatably mounted in the bracket and drivably connected with the firstmentioned shaft, said second mentioned shaft including a passage throughwhich a thread may extend, a

pulley on said first mentioned shaft, and a mounting for a cone of yarnon said second mentioned shaft.

4. A twisting attachment of the character described comprising abracket, a shaft carried by said second mentioned shaft and the bracket,

and a mounting for the source of yarn of said second mentioned shaft.

5. A twisting attachment comprising a bracket including arms forattaching it to a circular head of a knitting machine, legs dependingfrom the bracket, a shaft carried by the legs, a bearing housing carriedby the bracket, a tubular shaft in the said housing, driving connectionsbetween the tubular shaft and the first mentioned shaft, means formounting a cone on said tubular shaft above the bearing housing, andmeans for rotating said first mentioned shaft.

6. A twisting attachment of the character described comprising a bracketincluding depending legs and means for afiixing the bracket to aknitting machine, a shaft carried by the said legs, a second shaftrotatably mounted in the bracket and drivably connected with the firstmentioned shaft, said second mentioned shaft including a passage throughwhich a thread may extend, means for mounting a cone of yarn on saidsecond mentioned shaft, a driving pulley on said first mentioned shaft,and a thread guide carried by an arm depending from the said bracket.

JOHN LOYN MARSHALL.

